Meyer lemon trees, one of the most hardy of citrus trees and a favorite backyard fruit tree produce fruit year-round. Unless potted or grafted to dwarf rootstock, expect a Meyer lemon to grow up to fifteen feet tall. Meyers work well in pots, which also allows them to be grown in areas otherwise too cold in the winter. The potted tree can be overwintered inside.
Look for the ‘improved Meyer’ strain to cut the risk of disease, as that strain has been certified for disease resistance. The sale of unimproved Meyer lemon trees is prohibited in the state of California to prevent the spread of the viruses causing tristeza (usually spread by aphids) and tatter leaf (spread by infected budwood). The destructive power of citrus tristeza is so great that when it was discovered that Meyer lemons were symptomless hosts for the virus, owners of the trees were told to destroy them to prevent widespread loss of trees in commercial orchards. The disease-resitant strain was discovered by Four Winds Growers, a family-owned and -operated nursery in California. The disease-free strain was certified by the University of California and became available about thirty years ago.
The Meyer lemon is a perky garden ornamental, but don’t ignore its fruit, which is rounder than lemons grown for commercial sale, thinner-skinned and not as tart. The fruit makes excellent lemonade, marmalade, sorbet or pies.
If the fruit won’t be used for cooking, it should be picked as it ripens or quickly after it falls in order to discourage pests such as raccoons, opossums and rats.
The yellow leaves of a Meyer lemon tree shown on the first photo are common to potted plants owned by busy people.
By themselves, yellow leaves could indicate pests such as aphids, leafhoppers or whiteflies.
Or they could be a symptom that the lemon tree is suffering from any number of diseases from anthracnose to verticillium wilt.
The most likely culprit in this case is neglect leading to iron or nitrogen deficiency, and either underwatering or overwatering.
To help the lemon tree return to healthy vigor, shown in the second photo, try feeding with a citrus fertilizer and watering on a regular basis. During normal summer weather in dry areas, potted lemon trees should be watered twice a week – more often if the weather is excessively hot or dry. Also check that the tree has good drainage. Citrus trees prefer moist soil with fast drainage.
